Third Thursday is a monthly free admission event that gives the community a chance to gather and small businesses a chance to flourish. It also gives wanderers like us an opportunity to relax and get our wanderlust out =^_^=
Important tidbits:
Location: West Richardson Ave in Downtown Summerville
Bathrooms?: You can use restrooms in certain establishments, but there are no port-a-potties set up.
Wheelchair accessible?: Yes! You should be able to get everywhere
Water fountains: No
Doggies ok?: Yes! On a leash and you must pick up after them.
Find out more or buy tickets: http://www.summervilledream.org/third-thursdays.html
The Yorktown is an aircraft carrier packed with history, and for me, memory. This grand lady is on display in the Charleston Harbor and can be seen while you cross the Arthur Ravenel Bridge or while you take in some sea air from Waterfront Park in Historic Downtown Charleston. I have been to the Yorktown a few times and every time I go the sense of thankfulness, awe and sadness fill me from head to toe. My family on both sides are military and I have had many experiences with people who serve and have served our country. All of these experiences come back to me while I walk through the halls of remembrance that they have tastefully set up.
Watch our video walk through of just some of the things you will see when you visit the Yorktown!
They have several experiences available for the $22 admission fee. Beside the Yorktown low and stealthy is the submarine USS Clamagore. If you want to experience a cold war era sub, don't skip this! They also have The Vietnam Experience that gives you an idea of what our boys went through during that troublesome war. They sometimes also have the USS Laffey. This destroyer was given the nickname, "The Ship That Would Not Die", and is named after a civil war medal of honor recipient. All of these are covered under the $22 admission fee.
Something you should not skip when you go is the documentary that plays in the theater to the right of the entrance. In this movie they interview people who served on the Yorktown. In those shared experiences what stuck with me was the way the men called the ship mother. For them, it was a steady area of safety that could always be relied upon. To these men the Yorktown kept them safe and brought them home. When you go remember, as I do, the people who now sit on ships. Whose metal mother glides through the waves keeping them safe and bringing them home to us.
Important tidbits:
The Yorktown is located: 40 Patriots Point Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464, USA
Bathrooms are located in the gift shop.
It is wheelchair accessable, to a point.
There are no water fountians
Except for certain special occasions, pets are off limits.
Part one of my series of traveling with introverts! My husband and I are both introverts. We are different levels of introvert but find we share many things in common when it comes to our introversion. The first being our own space. As much as we enjoying seeing our family the question always comes down to; where will we sleep? Where could we have time to decompress, relax and recharge? We don't like taking over someones' space; so, using a guest room is nice but not ideal (especially if it's one of our family members rooms they are very nicely giving up for us). That is where having an RV would come in. You can define your own space in an RV. You would have your own bed and area that allows you to recharge after a hard days interactions. Beds come in all sizes from single to king and the living area is just as nice.
The second thing we share in common with each other is the amount of time we are able to be around others. We both have a max of about two hours. With an RV we have a separate area that allows us a quiet space to do whatever we need to recharge. Even when parking in a close area to those we spend time with, it's an obvious separation that allows us the comforts of home and the joys of seeing family and friends on our terms.
An RV that I like:
Now lets talk space. Rv's can be small pop ups that you can pull behind your 4-cylinder car or larger ones that need a truck. Depending on what you want to do and where you want to go, either of these can be ideal. I personally like the brand Cedar Creek by the company Forest River. I can bring my kitties in this thing and we will all fit! I like the idea of being able to take everything I love, wherever I want and have my area when it's time to recharge.
Playlist of RVs' that I like. So many options for your home away from home!
If you are anything like us, it's not about staying away from people; but being able to enjoy the people we want to see. This way we have the best of both worlds and find more of a desire to travel. Go to your local RV store and check out what they have. You might be surprised at just how spacious they are!
It's November and every year this is the time to learn our history as a country. What keeps us free, what makes us great and the sacrifice that is required for these things. The Tuskegee Airmen are one such example of those who sacrificed and what we can accomplish when hate and bigotry are set aside for love and common sense.
Enjoy the video
While there the stillness of the air provided an atmosphere of contemplation. The plagues and information boards give a small window into the life and times of our boys. What has inspired me most about these men (and others before them) is knowing that as they fight they protect not only the lives they love, but the lives of those who would sooner see them dead.
When you fight in our armed forces you fight for not only those you love, but those who ideals are totally abhorent to you. This I think is something that is sometimes hard to remember. Our fighters, our boys; fight for us all. Never forget that these men draw lines in the sand and defend those lines. They make it possible, in a very real sense, for each of us to fight over ideals from our keyboards; rather than having to pick up weapons everyday and fight off those that would tear down the fabric of this nation. Remember to thank them for the freedom and ease that you have. It was won with bitter cost.
Granby Park has so much potential. My husband and I traveled there as a way to get out of our area after Hurricane Matthew. When we arrived it the area looked exactly as we expected a small park to be; bathrooms, resting area, water fountain for dogs and people, signs that give you information about the animals and plant life that you may see, the hours of the park and last but not least the rules of the park. What we did not expect to see there was a police call box. If you have never seen them before these boxes are typically placed in areas that are not safe. You press a button that calls the police directly and they come to you as soon as they can. We weren't sure what to expect after that, but we forged on to see for ourselves what the park had to offer.
Enjoy the video!
The first little jaunt was not long as they do not seem to have developed the walk way to the right. It ended at some very overgrown woods and it wasn't a long walk either. There were a couple of people there; one fishing from an area that appeared to be a dirt slide for personal water craft and a gentleman sitting on at a picnic table listening to music and watching the sun set. We ended up turning around and taking the concrete path to the left. Several steps in and we found a homeless man fishing for turtles. We greeted him and he told us this park had been here for a long time. I looked it up and it was started in the 1990's. We thanked him, wished him luck and kept walking. Here the trail gets very scenic and you have a few stopping points to view the river. A couple of these viewing points were rendered pointless, however, because of the overgrowth directly in front of it. You could tell by the tree and grass growth that it was not well cared for.
We continued down the way to the abandoned trussel finding broken beer bottles, graffiti and more police call boxes to the winding back end of the park. Passing a few people walking back to the front, we witnessed at least one drug deal going down and a possible deal waiting to happen as we passed. We also saw a few people using it as a spot to drink beer while sitting in their truck (a definite no-no according to the park rules) and proceeded to come down with a distinctly unsafe feeling about the whole thing.
Our final thoughts: It is unfortunate that a place with such beauty and potential is struck down with the plague of being so unkept and forgotten looking. We wish they would place a walking or riding cop in the park to help clean it up a bit. If you want to go to Granby Park, go with a buddy, some sort of weapon and not after 4 p.m., that would be our advice. It is also our sincere hope this park is cleaned up, organinzed and made safe by the people who use it.
Important tid-bits:
Granby Park is located: 100 Catawba Cir, Columbia, SC 29201
Bathrooms and water are available at the beginning of the trail area.
If you find yourself in trouble or hurt the police call boxes are everywhere and they can get to you without having to know a number or anything.
What is developed is handicap friendly, except for certain low lying areas in the development that could have water on them if it rained.
Go with a buddy and do not go there at night! If you want to go, we would not stop you. But please, do not go alone and do not go unprepared. You may find yourself in need of the police call boxes if traveling there unprepared.
I participated in my first heart walk this year. The walk itself is only three miles, 1.5 one way and the same 1.5 back all along some of the most well known areas of Downtown Charleston. This walk is dedicated to survivors of heart disease, raising money to help fight heart disease and stroke, and raising awareness for living a healthy lifestyle. I went with three friends and had a good time trying to beat their time from last year and waving at the volunteers that cheered us on while we walked. Film crews from local news stations and college students recording for film class were also present. We had several photo opportunities which included Batman, the Heart walk Heart and the Stingrays mascot. We got our picture with Batman! :)
Enjoy the video below!
When you go you want to get there early as traffic was crazy! You are allowed free parking in the parking garage of the Aquarium util 12pm that day, it is suggested that you carpool if you can. According to my friends there are a bunch of freebies that are also given away before you start the walk. Those include but are not limited to: free water for the duration of the walk, cookies and coupons provided by Subway, face painting and bounce castle for the kids and more! This event is open to everyone and is pet friendly. You don't have to pay to walk and it's a good way to see the iconic places of Downtown Charleston.
Important tips:
Water is provided free of charge to walkers and bathrooms are located in the parking garage
Parking is free in the Aquarium garage.
This is a pet friendly event. Your pet must be leashed and you must pick up after said pet.
This event is handicap accessible. Watching the video you will see everyone is included in this walk.
Get there early!! Traffic is terrible for this event as thousands of people are going. Plus you want to get in on these freebies :)
Be aware that there are many people filming and taking pictures.
To find out more about the Charleston Heart Walk visit there website: Charleston Heart Walk
Our final thoughts on this free event is that we will be back next year and early!
Mepkin Abbey is an active Trappist monk monastery located on the Cooper River. It has lovely gardens, a small contemplative maze and, of course; a reception center gift shop. The history of Mepkin is tied into the plantation land that it sits on. You can find graveyards, old oak trees that stretch across the water, statuary, a large pond and several picnic worthy areas.
Mepkin Abbey is a former rice plantation. At 7,000 acres there is more than enough room for anyone who wants a peaceful and reflective time in nature. People of all faiths are welcome to enjoy the grounds and hold discourse with the monks. It has been owned by three families and was eventually passed on to the church in the 1950's.
The first summer I went on this adventure, I went back four times. It's serenity and beauty calls me back every year. As I wander the grounds, look at the flowers, statues, visit the gift shop area and enjoy the rows of angel oak trees peace overwhelms my soul. When you go, you seem to be able to forget about the big wide world outside and just exist in that moment with nature. We can not wait to go back!
Bathrooms, waterfoutains and bottled waters for purchase are all available at the gift shop.
This area is wheelchair accessible for most of it. They have built up roads for a good portion and the views from the top where you can not access from the wheel chair are stunning. Everyone will have a great time.
Don't forget your sunscreen, water, and possibly even a hat if you are out here during the summer. You may be covered by trees, but it still gets plenty hot.
The monastary does have various times it is closed, multiple events during the year and tours you can take. Don't be shy and ask at the gift shop for a list of all of these events.
Final conclusion: we will return every year. There is always something small but different to see when you go, and the peace of the area never changes.
